Richardson back for second act

Friday

Nov 27, 2009 at 12:01 AMNov 27, 2009 at 1:16 PM

Far from home and his roots at Peoria High School, D.J. Richardson wanted to give up on Findlay College Prep in the Las Vegas suburbs.

He went to Las Vegas to raise his grades and improve his chances of securing his eligibility to play basketball as an Illinois freshman, but his role on the prep powerhouse had him thinking about returning to Peoria. Phone calls to Illini coach Bruce Weber helped change his mind.

JOHN SUPINIE

Far from home and his roots at Peoria High School, D.J. Richardson wanted to give up on Findlay College Prep in the Las Vegas suburbs.

He went to Las Vegas to raise his grades and improve his chances of securing his eligibility to play basketball as an Illinois freshman, but his role on the prep powerhouse had him thinking about returning to Peoria. Phone calls to Illini coach Bruce Weber helped change his mind.

“Even though they were winning, he felt that maybe he didn’t have a strong enough role,’’ Weber said. “I said, ‘If you leave, what are you going to do? You’re not going to come here. You won’t make it (academically).’”

If he’d dropped out of Findlay, Richardson would likely have gone to junior college. Instead, less than a year later, he’s one of two freshman stars for No. 20 Illinois. Back in town for Illinois’ game with Utah on Friday in the Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena, Richardson’s gamble in Vegas paid off.

“I’m the talk of Peoria right now,’’ Richardson said.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder is averaging 12.3 points. He is 9-for-12 from the 3-point line in the first four games while also adding 15 assists and losing only four turnovers. His maturity and all-around game (especially his desire to play defense) put him in the starting lineup well before the season opener. Richardson scored 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the 3-point line in the 78-64 win over Wofford on Tuesday.

It all came after making a tough decision. Richardson first considered prep school after taking the ACT late in his junior year at Central. His family felt Richardson’s chances of earning college eligibility would greatly increase by attending prep school. Illinois gave him suggestions, but he wasn’t interested in a New England prep school.

He chose Findlay, located about 10 miles south of the Strip in Henderson, when the roster at perennial powerhouse Oak Hill in Virginia was full. Through an AAU coach, Richardson came across the Findlay program after former Chicago prep star DeAndre Liggins played there as a senior before gaining eligibility to Kentucky last season.

“It was a process after my junior season,’’ Richardson said. “My family talked about it. We talked to the coaches. Somehow we found this prep school. We heard DeAndre went out there. We knew he was good in high school, and he qualified. It seemed like a good place.’’

Findlay coach Michael Peck served as a video coordinator at UNLV under former Illinois coach Lon Kruger, giving the program a stable feel. Yet Richardson found himself far down the pecking order on offense.

“We had a team full of guys who would launch the ball,’’ Richardson said. “I was used to moving the ball around. Out there, you would see guys shoot with two or three guys around them. I kept asking, ‘When’s my turn? When’s my turn?’ I called coach Weber. He gave me advice through the year.’’

Weber convinced Richardson to improve other parts of his game, such as ballhandling, defense and rebounding.

Said Weber: “You could do a variety of things. Everyone knows you can score. You don’t have to prove you can score. Just qualify and make it here.’’

That all-around game helped Findlay win the National High School Invitational title and earned Richardson fourth-team Parade All-American honors. Richardson averaged 12 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals. Looking back on it now, the experience helped him during his first days at Illinois.

“Everybody said if he stayed here, he would made McDonald’s All-American, he would have been Mr. Basketball,’’ said Richardson’s father, D.J. “What’s important to me was graduating and getting his grades.’’

Findlay prides itself on getting players eligible, but Peck said the school isn’t a diploma mill. The players do the work.

“We tell our guys that if you thought coming here that homework was going to get done for you, you’re out of your mind,’’ Peck said. “The last time I checked, I’ve got a diploma and a degree. I’m not doing any more of that. If you don’t want to do it, that’s your choice. If you don’t qualify in May and you go to a junior college, don’t get ticked at me.’’

Before arriving at Illinois for summer semester, Richardson already knew how to live away from home. He learned how to live with a roommate, manage his money, follow curfew and stay out of trouble. Richardson shared a five-bedroom home with nine other Findlay teammates just down the street from the Henderson International School, where the players attended class. An assistant and his wife were chaperones. The garage was turned into a study hall complete with computer workstations.

“If I was a senior, I’d do it again,’’ Richardson said. “It was fun, getting away from home and living the life, doing extra things. I experienced something I never thought I’d do. I went from playing (AAU ball) in Las Vegas to living in Las Vegas.’’

Richardson won’t make a trip to the house or visit with his old Findlay team and coaches because, oddly enough, they’re playing outside of Peoria at the Tournament of Champions in Washington over the weekend. But Vegas has a special feeling now to Richardson.

“It’s kind of like home,’’ Richardson said.

This time, it might be tough to leave.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

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